May 2-5, 2026: Track the waning Flower Moon as it moves past Antares and through Scorpius. See exact positions before sunrise and after sunset with binocular views.
Venus as an Evening Star
Moon, Scorpius
With brilliant Venus and Jupiter dominating the evening sky, the bright waning Flower moon passes Scorpius. The moon rises later each evening, near the midnight hour. The moon’s place with the stars is also visible before sunrise. Use a binocular to see the starfield with the lunar orb.
After Sunset
Here’s what to see four hours after sunset:
May 2: The gibbous moon, 98% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southeast horizon. It is 3.6° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco) and 4.9° to the lower right of Dschubba, the Scorpion’s crown or forehead.
May 3: The waning moon, 94% illuminated, is nearly 11° above the southeast horizon, 1.9° to Antares’ lower right. On celestial artwork the star marks the creature’s heart.
May 4: Around the midnight hour, the 88% lit moon is 4° above the horizon.
Before Sunrise
Look for the moon one hour before sunrise:
May 3: The bright moon, 97% illuminated, is over 10° above the southeast horizon, 2.0° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco).
May 4: The bright gibbous moon, 93% illuminated, is nearly 15° above the south-southwest horizon, 3.4° to Antares lower left.
May 5: The waning moon, 88% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southwest horizon, over 15° to Antares’ upper left. The lunar orb is over 8° above the curved of the Scorpion’s tail, Shaula, and the stinger, Lesath. The pair is sometimes known as the “Cat’s Eyes.”
After sunset and before sunrise, look for the bright waning moon with Scorpius.
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